US Treasury Confirms Seized Bitcoin Will Build National Reserve

• All Bitcoin seized through criminal or civil forfeiture will be retained in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, not sold.
• The SBR grows through enforcement and forfeitures, requiring no taxpayer funds for acquisition.
• Reserve assets follow strict custody rules and are only sellable in extreme national economic emergencies.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed in Davos that all Bitcoin seized through criminal or civil forfeiture will be added to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Bessent stated the sale of confiscated Bitcoin remains suspended, and assets will be retained to support America’s national digital asset strategy.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Policy and Implementation

Bessent said the government aims to stop selling seized Bitcoin and instead integrate it into a permanent digital asset reserve. He told reporters, “If anything was seized, I believe it would have been seized from the founders, and the policy of this government is to add seized Bitcoin to our digital asset reserve,”

The Treasury emphasized that budget-neutral acquisition will prioritize asset forfeitures rather than open-market purchases. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) will operate under strict custody protocols managed through the Federal Reserve.

Bitcoin holdings within the reserve cannot be sold except in extreme national economic emergencies. Bessent added that the reserve will expand organically as law enforcement recovers more assets through criminal investigations and civil penalties.

Enforcement-Driven Growth and Budget-Neutral Acquisition

The Treasury clarified that no taxpayer dollars will fund large-scale Bitcoin purchases. Instead, enforcement and asset forfeitures will increase holdings, including cases such as the Samourai Wallet developers’ forfeited Bitcoin.

Questions remain regarding the Asset Liquidation Agreement signed in that case, though the DOJ confirmed the Bitcoin will remain in the SBR. Bessent emphasized that 100% of seized assets will be preserved to maintain sovereign digital wealth.

Global Context and Regulatory Alignment

Bessent noted the SBR announcement coincides with U.S. efforts to lead in digital asset regulation. He cited ongoing legislative work, including the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act, designed to clarify crypto rules and encourage innovation.

Observers in Davos noted the policy may influence international approaches to seized crypto holdings, encouraging other nations to consider long-term reserves rather than market liquidation.

The Treasury’s plan signals a permanent shift in U.S. management of confiscated digital assets, aiming to stabilize the market and formalize Bitcoin as a strategic national asset.